Top 10 Chinese Second-hand Ship Trading Platforms

With the end of pandemic restrictions, global trade is bouncing back, fueling growth in maritime shipping and, in turn, boosting the market for second-hand vessel transactions.

Traditionally, China, Japan, and South Korea have dominated the second-hand ship trade. In recent years, China’s competitive pricing and significant improvements in ship quality have made it increasingly attractive to buyers and sellers worldwide seeking pre-owned vessels.

Our evaluation of the top platforms considers transaction volume, total trade value, service offerings, reputation, and other key factors.

1. China Ship Trading

Managed by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, China Ship Trading offers both B2B and B2C services, earning fees for facilitating transactions and ship appraisals. Their platform encompasses services like auctions, bidding, insurance, financing, settlements, and supports all vessel types.

Pros: Wide service range, full ship variety.
Cons: Incomplete information on some listings; as a state-owned enterprise, it faces growing competition from private sector newcomers.

2. CSSC

CSSC operates as a listing and information portal for B2B and B2C ship transactions, charging for import/export services.
Pros: No sales commission, broad ship selection, comprehensive transaction services.
Cons: As a state-owned entity, it shares similar limitations to China Ship Trading, particularly in service agility and updating ship resources.

3. Alibaba

China’s largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba, is globally recognized for its scale and financial strength, which ensures transaction safety.

Pros: Reliable, secure transactions.
Cons: Not a specialized ship-trading site; mainly B2B; many intermediary resellers drive up prices; platform fees and taxes can make ships less competitively priced.

4. VesselsLink

Founded 25 years ago, VesselsLink is a private company specializing in second-hand ship trade, shipbuilding, and auctions. With roots in shipbuilding, it can meet new build requests and source used ships per buyer specifications. VesselsLink uses video and live streaming for overseas clients, especially appealing to Southeast Asian buyers.

Pros: Competitive pricing and service, innovative customer engagement.
Cons: Smaller ship inventory and limited capital compared to state-owned rivals.

5. Eship Trading

A well-known platform that assists brokers with vessel sales and provides access to trading privileges via paid membership for buyers and sellers.

Pros: Early entrant with good overseas reputation; offers document and trading support.
Cons: High transaction costs; membership fees plus commission on every sale.

6. Made-in-China

A broad e-commerce site featuring a variety of goods, including second-hand ships, with content in both Chinese and English.

Pros: Wide product scope, bilingual interface, new builds and industry info included.
Cons: Only provides ship information (not direct transaction services); high membership fees.

7. OICTSHIP

OICTSHIP is a vertical trading platform specializing in new ships, second-hand vessels, ship equipment, and marine services. As a dedicated marketplace, it enables direct connections between shipowners and shipping companies, significantly reducing procurement costs. The platform is highly optimized for performance, making the transaction process efficient and professional.

Pros: Professional second-hand ship trading; well-optimized website; direct transactions between shipowners and companies lower costs.
Cons: Mobile interface is not yet user-friendly; some features are still under development.

8. Shipping Online

A prominent source for ship sales, leasing, and dismantling services, as well as parts and equipment.

Pros: English interface, caters to global users, diversified offerings.
Cons: Basic website design, limited ship details, sometimes slow service.

9. China Ship Network

A Chinese-language information portal for ships and equipment, allowing users to post buy/sell listings.

Pros: Comprehensive information and equipment listings.
Cons: Accessible only in Chinese; does not cater to international users.

10. Shipsol

A specialist second-hand ship platform with a large inventory but limited listing information.

Pros: Abundant ship resources.
Cons: Lacks transaction guarantees; direct negotiations required; incomplete documents for international export; 

Summary

China’s second-hand ship trading market is evolving, with new private enterprises gradually challenging long-established state-owned companies.  However, challenges remain in terms of information transparency and transaction security, especially for overseas customers.

Note: The above rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of various dimensions and are for reference only.